Public safety briefs

A 37-year-old Carlsbad resident is suspected of trying to run over a

Huntington Beach police officer while evading an arrest for alleged

drunken driving, police said.

At 7 p.m. Oct. 28, two officers standing outside their patrol car noticed

John R. Thompson slowly driving a 1987 Nissan pick-up truck with its

headlights off on Jacqueline Street near Slater Avenue, Huntington Beach

Police Sgt. Janet Perez said. When Thompson came to a stop, the officers

approached, she said. The suspect then drove his truck in reverse, almost

running over one of the officers. The suspect then drove forward, almost

running over the officer again, Perez said.

The officer avoided getting hit by jumping in between two parked cars,

she said. The officers ran back to their car as the suspect sped off, she

said.

“Then the pursuit was on,” Perez said.

The chase wound through north Huntington Beach and into Westminster

before Thompson collided with a Honda Accord at the intersection of

Goldenwest Street and Westminster Avenue, Perez said. The force of the

collision caused the suspect’s car to overturn.

The Honda’s driver, Sergio Espinoza, 22, of Westminster suffered minor

injuries. Thompson had internal injuries, Perez said. Both were taken to

UCI Medical Center, she said. No officers were hurt

Boy, 7, hurt as car rolls into him

A driverless car hit a father and son at a Huntington Beach parking lot

Oct. 31.

At about 10 a.m., Kaio Ferreria, 42, and his 7-year-old son Julien, stood

behind their car, zipping up their wetsuits when an unoccupied 1992 Ford

Ranger, parked in neutral but without a parking brake, rolled back and

pinned them, Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Janet Perez said.

The father was not injured, she said. Paramedics took the child to UCI

Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, she said. He was later

released, she said.

The owner of the truck has not been cited, but an investigation

continues, she said.

City to review RV parking law

In response to one man’s protest of recreational vehicles parked on

residential streets throughout the city, City Manager Ray Kromer will

analyze the city ordinance that allows RVs to be parked like cars -- for

up to 72 hours at a time.

“This has come up many times and it’s time to take a hard look at it,”

said Mayor John Collins at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Many RV

owners move their vehicles every 72 hours, but they only move them six to

eight inches, which complies with the technical law but not the spirit of

the law.”

Resident Perry Goldstein, who said he planned to speak at all upcoming

council meetings until an RV ordinance is created, said the large

vehicles are aesthetically displeasing and a safety hazard for children

playing near them, blocked from the view of oncoming cars.

“We haven’t had any accidents yet,” he said. “Do we have to lose one

child before we say enough is enough?” Goldstein said.

Several RV owners also spoke at the council meeting, encouraging

officials to keep the status quo.

Kromer said he will study RV ordinances in nearby cities and present his

findings to the council in 30 days.